The Park City Summit County Arts Council (PCSC Arts), the Park City Film Series and U.S. Ski & Snowboard (“the Partners”) have come together to present the Breaking Boundaries // 2019 Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Champs Youth Film Contest. The Partners are looking for young filmmakers (21 and under) to tell stories about breaking boundaries, wherever that may apply in their lives. In the world of elite competitive snowboarding, freestyle and freeskiing, athletes challenge themselves to push the boundaries of creativity and difficulty to be the best in the world in these sports. The best in the world challenge the expectations of what is possible and break boundaries to achieve their dreams whenever they can.

Local youth filmmakers are being asked to tell their boundary breaking stories in a short film format. Films do not necessarily need to be about skiing or snowboarding or competitive sport, but rather stories that are inspiring for the community and the athletes of the 2019 World Championships.

All entries must be appropriate for all audiences. Films referencing sex, drugs or violence will not be accepted. Any film that includes content that is deemed inappropriate, indecent or obscene, as determined by the Partners in their sole discretion, will not be eligible. Contestants must be residents of Salt Lake, Wasatch or Summit County, Utah, at the time of submission, and must be 21 years of age or younger.

Interested parties can submit as many videos as they would like. Submissions must be made in English or subtitled in English. Videos must be 10 minutes or less. All entries will be posted to the Breaking Boundaries // 2019 Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Champs Youth Film Contest Vimeo group.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges. The judging panel will be comprised of the Partners, local freestyle/freeski athletes and other leaders in the arts and film community.

Contest winners will be announced on October 1, 2018. Contest details can be found at any of The Partner websites: pcscarts.org, parkcityfilmseries.com, usskiandsnowboard.org and 2019worldchamps.com.

The Breaking Boundaries // 2019 Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Champs Youth Film Contest is the kickoff program that the Partners have developed to connect arts and culture with sport and recreation. Stay tuned for more creative activations from the Partners as we get closer to the FIS World Championships in February 2019.

What:
Breaking Boundaries // 2019 Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Champs Youth Film Contest

When:
Deadline for submissions: 6/1/2018
Winners Announced: 10/1/2018
FIS World Championships: 2/1/2019 - 2/10/2019

Who:
Youth 21 and under living in Summit, Wasatch, and Salt Lake Counties

Promoting Partners:
U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Park City Summit County Arts Council
Park City Film Series

Cost:
There is no cost to enter the contest.

Winner:
Cash Prize of $2,500
One month exclusive experience embedded with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s content department for the 2019 World Championships. Work with both the in-house content team as well as the host broadcaster feature team capturing behind the scenes stories of the Championships.
Media/Broadcast accreditation for the event including lift access for the Championships
Organizing Committee team uniform (Jacket/hat etc.).

Runner up:
Cash Prize of $500
Two VIP tickets for up to four event competition finals for the Championships

About the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships
Park City, Utah, has a proud tradition of innovation and excellence in hosting international skiing and snowboarding events. The community has shown a tremendous commitment to celebrating elite skiing and snowboarding competition along with delivering some of the best competition venues in the world. 

Over the past 20 years, the Park City community has worked with FIS to innovate and modernize winter sports, from the America’s Opening at Park City Mountain Resort being one of the first FIS Alpine World Cup stops to offer prize money, to the introduction of the 18-foot halfpipe to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, to Deer Valley Resort becoming the only site to host the FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships twice.  Now, with new partners at Solitude Mountain Resort, it is time for these world class resorts to come together with the Park City community to open the next chapter in this proud tradition as we host the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle and Freeski World Championships. 

The 2019 FIS Freestyle, Snowboarding and Freeski World Championships will be an opportunity for the resorts and the Park City community to return to the international winter sports spotlight and will once again reaffirm that the ski resorts of the Wasatch front are among the best destinations for freestyle skiing, freeskiing and snowboarding in the world. This World Championships will also provide the opportunity to continue the tradition of innovation in elite snowboarding and freestyle competition. We recognize that the traditions of these sports are based on individuality and creativity with different groups claiming to represent the true culture of each sport.

These World Championships will bring the best skiers and riders in the world to Utah to compete at Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and Solitude Resort. Solitude will host with snowboardcross, team snowboardcross and skicross. Park City Mountain will be home to the freeski and snowboard venues, including big air, halfpipe and slopestyle skiing. Deer Valley will host the freestyle events of moguls, dual moguls, aerials and team aerials. For more information, visit 2019worldchamps.com.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is an Olympic sports organization providing leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. Established in 1905, U.S. Ski & Snowboard receives no direct government support, operating solely through private donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to fund athletic programs to assist athletes in reaching their dreams.

About Park City Film Series
The Park City Film Series is Summit County’s only nonprofit Art House Cinema. A Park City staple since 1999, the Film Series has established itself as a vital, contributing member of the arts community. We accomplish this through the screening of independent, foreign and documentary films each weekend and our programming of post-screening Q&A’s and panel discussions that deepen the community dialogue around the issues raised by the films we screen. In addition, we support area non-profits through free community screenings and film-based fundraisers. Our vision is to use film as a medium to entertain, inspire and educate our patrons, helping Park City remain a well informed and engaged mountain community. Our mission is to create community through film.

About Park City Summit County Arts Council
Founded in 1986, the Park City Summit County Arts Council is one of the oldest arts and culture organizations in Park City. In the past three decades, we have advocated and secured significant funding for arts and culture. We have incubated numerous arts and culture organizations. We have built audiences for established and emerging artists. We have helped promote our world class cultural tourist destination. Most importantly, we have helped make art part of our community. Our mission is to promote, support, and strengthen arts and culture and the larger creative sector

Two weeks to go until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and athletes are completing their final preparations with events from Aspen to Austria and points in between. Catch all the action this weekend on the networks of NBCUniversal, including NBCSN, the NBC Sports app and The Olympic Channel - Home of Team USA!

FIS Women’s Ski World Cup -  Lenzerheide, SUI
The women’s World Cup tour stops in Lenzerheide for alpine combined, giant slalom and slalom races Jan. 26-18. 2018 Olympic Team members Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.), Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.), Stacey Cook (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) and Breezy Johnson (Victor, Idaho) are all expected to race throughout the weekend.
Women’s alpine combined start list

FIS Men’s Ski World Cup - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER
The U.S. Ski Team men’s alpine squad is out in full force this weekend for giant slalom and downhill races in Garmisch. Olympic team members Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah), Tommy Ford (Bend, Ore.), Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah) and Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.) are on the roster to compete. This will be the first time Nyman has skied the Garmisch downhill since suffering a knee injury there last season.
Thursday’s Downhill training results

FIS Cross Country World Cup - Seefeld, AUT
The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is in the Austrian mountain village of Seefeld this weekend for a test of the 2019 World Championships venue. Saturday opens with a freestyle sprint then a mass start freestyle distance race Sunday. It’s the final World Cup before the team heads to PyeongChang. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is expected to announce the full Olympic Team later on Thursday. Olympic team members Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.), Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.), Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.), Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, Vt.) and others will compete in sprint and 10k/15k races before entering their pre-Olympic training camp.

FIS Women’s Ski Jumping World Cup - Ljubno, SLO
FIS Men’s Ski Jumping World Cup - Zakopane, POL
The men’s World Cup tour heads to Zakopane, Poland this weekend while the women compete at their European training base in Ljubno, Slovenia – each with competitions Saturday and Sunday. It’s the final women’s competition before the Olympics with the men in Willingen, Germany just prior to heading to PyeongChang. 

FIS Nordic Combined World Cup -  Seefeld, AUT
The Seefeld Triple World Cup gets underway Friday featuring three straight days of competition. The event will be a test for the 2019 World Championships. The team then heads to Hakuba, Japan for a weekend World Cup on the way into PyeongChang. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is expected to announce the full Olympic Team later on Thursday.

FIS Snowboard World Cup - Bansko, BUL
Snowboardcross riders are headed to Bulgaria to compete in the 2017-18 FIS Snowboard World Cup season's seventh SBX event which will be staged as a sprint race in Bansko Saturday. Leading the way for the USA are Olympic team members Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.), Mick Deirdorf (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), Hagen Kearney (Telluride, Colo.), Rosie Mancari (Anchorage, Alaska) and Meghan Tierney (Edwards, Colo.).

X Games Aspen
Top U.S. Snowboard Team and U.S. Freeski Team athletes are back in Aspen, Colorado this week looking to land some X Games medals before going for medals in PyeongChang. Many members of the newly named Olympic teams are expected to compete including David Wise (Reno, Nev.), Chloe Kim (Torrence, Calif.), Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) and Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.). Fans can follow the action at xgames.espn.com.

Olympic Team
The U.S. Olympic Committee will formally unveil the entire Team USA lineup on Friday at 1:00 p.m. EST. U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced alpine, freeski, freestyle and snowboard teams. Cross country, nordic combined and ski jumping are on tap for later on Thursday.
U.S. Olympic Alpine Team
U.S. Olympic Freeski Team
U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team
U.S. Olympic Ski Jumping Team 
U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
*schedules subject to change

ALPINE
Jan. 26
4:00 a.m. – Women’s alpine combined, run 1; Lenzerheide – olympicchannel.com
9:30 a.m. – Women’s alpine combined, run 2; Lenzerheide – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 27
4:15 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, run 1; Lenzerheide – olympicchannel.com
5:45 a.m. – Men’s Downhill; Garmisch-Partenkirchen –  olympicchannel.com
7:00 a.m. – Women’s giant slalom, run 2; Lenzerheide – NBCSN
8:30 a.m. – Men’s Downhill; Garmisch-Partenkirchen – NBCSN (same day coverage)

Jan. 28
3:30 a.m. – Women’s slalom, run 1; Lenzerheide – olympicchannel.com
4:30 a.m. – Men’s giant slalom, run 1; Garmisch-Partenkirchen –  olympicchannel.com
6:00 a.m. – Women’s slalom, run 2; Lenzerheide – NBCSN
7:30 a.m. – Men’s giant slalom, run 2; Garmisch-Partenkirchen – NBCSN

CROSS COUNTRY
Jan. 27
7:45 a.m. – Men and women’s sprint; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com
10:00 a.m. – Men and women’s sprint; Seefeld – NBCSN

Jan. 28
5:20 a.m. – Men's 15km mass start; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com
8:30 a.m. – Women's 10k mass start; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com
11:00 a.m. – Women's 10k mass start; Seefeld – NBCSN (same day coverage)

SKI JUMPING
Jan. 26
12:00 p.m. –  Men's HS 140 qualification; Zakopane – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 27
8:00 a.m. –  Women’s HS94; Ljubno – olympicchannel.com
10:00 a.m. –  Men's team HS 140; Zakopane – olympicchannel.com
4:00 p.m. –  Women’s HS94; Ljubno – olympicchannel.com (same day coverage)
5:30 p.m. –  Men's team HS 140; Zakopane – olympicchannel.com (same day coverage)

Jan. 28
8:00 a.m. –  Women’s HS94; Ljubno – olympicchannel.com
10:00 a.m. –  Men's HS 140; Zakopane – olympicchannel.com
4:00 p.m. –  Women’s HS94; Ljubno – olympicchannel.com (same day coverage)
5:30 p.m. –  Men's HS 140; Zakopane – olympicchannel.com (same day coverage)

NORDIC COMBINED
Jan. 26
8:00 a.m. – Gundersen NH HS 109; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com
10:10 a.m. – Individual 5k; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 27
8:00 a.m. – Gundersen NH HS 109; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com
9:45 a.m. – Individual 10k; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com

Jan. 28
6:30 a.m. – Gundersen NH HS 109; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com
9:30 a.m. – Individual 15k; Seefeld – olympicchannel.com

SNOWBOARD
Jan. 26
5:30 a.m. – Parallel giant slalom; Blansko – olympicchannel.com
4:00 p.m. – Toyota U.S. Grand Prix slopestyle; Mammoth – NBCSN (re-air of Jan. 20 event)

Jan. 27
5:30 a.m. – Snowboardcross; Blansko – olympicchannel.com
11:00 a.m. – Toyota U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe; Mammoth – NBCSN (re-air of Jan. 21 event)

Jan. 28
7:00 a.m. – Parallel slalom; Blansko – olympicchannel.com

A strong and deep U.S. Olympic Freeskiing Team is headed to PyeongChang for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the selection of 15 halfpipe and slopestyle freeski athletes who will compete at the Games beginning February 9. Highlighted among the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team athletes are defending halfpipe gold medalists David Wise (Reno, Nev.) and Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.), defending slopestyle silver medalists Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo.) and Devin Logan (W. Dover, Vt.), and defending bronze medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.). The selections will be confirmed by the United States Olympic Committee when it formally names Team USA this Friday (January 26).
 
Athletes qualified for the team through a series of five selection events beginning in February 2017 and concluding at Mammoth Mountain, California this past weekend. Athletes qualifying by objective criteria were honored at Mammoth Mountain as a part of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Nomination Ceremony presented by Visa.

Logan, who won silver in slopestyle at Sochi, will return in both slopestyle and in halfpipe.

Of the 15 athletes named to the team, 10 were members of the debut Olympic squad at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, including six of the eight halfpipe team members named.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games is set for February 9. The U.S. Olympic Freeskiing Team will have its first competition on Saturday, February 18, with women's slopestyle qualifications. Finals are on Sunday, February 19. 
 
NBCUniversal will present more than 2,400 hours of coverage across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCOlympics.com, and the NBC Sports app - the most ever for a Winter Olympics.
 
Team Facts

• David Wise and Maddie Bowman return for their second Olympics to defend their halfpipe skiing Olympic gold medals from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
• Maggie Voisin will be returning to the Olympics with redemption on her mind. She injured her ankle in Sochi during training and was unable to compete. This will be her second chance to make an Olympic podium.
• Devin Logan, who competed in slopestyle at Sochi, will be representing Team USA for the first time in halfpipe - the only dual event Olympians for the U.S. Freeskiing Team. 
• After nearly missing the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team, Alex Ferreira found redemption by locking in an objective position in halfpipe at Mammoth Mountain.
• Torin Yater-Wallace will be returning to the Olympics, this time healthy and as an objectively qualified athlete vs a discretionary pick in 2014.
• 2014 slopestyle medalists Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper qualified for the 2018 Games on the final day of the selection period, with Kenworthy coming from behind in dramatic style, winning in Aspen-Snowmass and then taking second in the Mammoth Mountain finale.

2018 U.S. OLYMPIC FREESKIING TEAM
Slopestyle 
Men

• Nick Goepper, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (3/14/1994) *
• Alex Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah (09/21/1998)
• Gus Kenworthy, Telluride, Colo. (10/01/1991) *
• McRae Williams, Park City, Utah (10/23/1990)

Women

• Caroline Claire, Manchester Center, Vt. (02/02/2000)
• Devin Logan, W. Dover, Vt. (02/17/1993) *
• Darian Stevens, Missoula, Mont. (10/29/1996)
• Maggie Voisin, Whitefish, Mont. (12/14/1998) *

Halfpipe
Men

• Aaron Blunck, Crested Butte, Colo. (04/12/1996) *
• Alex Ferreira, Aspen, Colo. (8/14/1994)
• Torin Yater-Wallace, Basalt, Colo. (12/02/1995) *
• David Wise, Reno, Nev. (6/30/1990) *

Women

• Maddie Bowman, South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (1/10/1994) *
• Annalisa Drew, Andover, Mass. (05/28/1993) *
• Devin Logan, West Dover, Vt. (02/17/1993)
• Brita Sigourney, Carmel, Calif. (1/17/1990) *

QUOTES
Jeremy Forster, Freeski Program Director
The selection process was challenging for the athletes but it resulted in a truly remarkable team of athletes ready to challenge for Olympic medals. Our selection event resorts, including Mammoth Mountain, Aspen-Snowmass, Copper Mountain and Breckenridge, did a great job in providing world-class venues. This is a veteran team that knows how to win, with a great mix of youth.

David Wise
My first trip to the Olympic Games was a true lifetime highlight. If anything, qualifying for the team this time was even harder. It is an unbelievable honor to be among this great team of Americans going to South Korea to represent our country.

Maggie Voisin
Going into the Olympics I am just super excited to represent Team USA, but also I'm just so excited to go out and ski for myself. Being one of the few freeskiing athletes who get to showcase what our sport is about on the world stage is just a huge honor as well. I am so grateful to be headed back to my second Olympics and to get another opportunity to redeem myself and show my love for skiing!

Gus Kenworthy
The biggest advantage of our selection process is it motivates all of the U.S. guys to really be on their game. Right beforehand, it really incentivizes us to be good going into the Games. Skiing is at the highest level it’s ever been. The depth of the field is so much greater than it’s ever been before. In Sochi, our three runs were pretty standout from the field. But now a 90 score isn’t a podium run, maybe you just make finals.

Torin Yater-Wallace
This year has been stressful. To be here and get it done has been an amazing ride. I’m happy to be feeling good and healthy and go into this next Olympics.

Devin Logan
It’s been a long road for me but making it in both slope and pipe has been my biggest goal for the longest time and I’m thrilled.

McRae Williams
Not making the Olympic team back in 2014 was absolutely devastating. Thinking of having to wait four years to try again and wondering if I’d even still be at the top of my game was hard. To get that redemption now is beyond a dream come true. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of accomplishment I’m experiencing. It was an extremely difficult battle with many unexpected obstacles but I powered through and it all paid off. Still can’t believe it.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix wrapped up Sunday at Mammoth Mountain, Calif. with final objective criteria selections for the Olympic Team announced for slopestyle skiing. Three athletes were recognized as Olympic selections at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Nomination Ceremony presented by Visa at the base of Mammoth's Unbound Terrain park. All three achieved their team status through objective selection criteria.

The entire freeski team, including any additional selections based on team quotas, will be announced this coming week.
The team will be headlined by Sochi medalists Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo,) and Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) It will also be the second Olympics for Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.), who was injured in the days leading up to the start of the Sochi Olympics four years ago. She was the only objective criteria qualifier for the women.
 
NBCUniversal will present more than 2,400 hours of coverage across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCOlympics.com, and the NBC Sports app - the most ever for a Winter Olympics.
 
All members of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team will be confirmed by the United States Olympic Committee when it formally names Team USA this Friday (January 26).
  
2018 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM (SLOPESTYLE SKIING)
Men's Slopestyle
Nick Goepper, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (03/14/1994) *
Gus Kenworthy, Telluride, Colo. (10/1/1991) *
 
Women's Slopestyle
Maggie Voisin, Whitefish, Mont.  (12/14/1998) *
* Past Olympian

PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

Nick Goepper
Yes, I felt like I was still going to be in my prime and skiing well and going to another games and hopefully another one after this. Nice to meet my goals.

Gus Kenworthy
I don’t know if I have another one in the tank. But I felt that at 26 it was still age appropriate. 30 is young in life but old for a freeskier .
 
Maggie Voisin
I’m just super grateful to make it to another Games. I was injured in Sochi and wasn’t able to compete. But this is nice redemption to be able to show what I can do. There was a lot of emotion when I called my mom. I told myself that day four years ago I would do whatever it took to get back. It’s been a roller coaster four years but I did what I wanted to do.

Gus Kenworthy
I haven’t talked to anyone yet. My boyfriend is here and my agent. It was more emotional not making the pipe this time. I definitely cried some tears in my hotel room. It’s nice redemption to make it in slope.

Nick Goepper
Thanks to social media, before I even knew my phone was blowing up. I was surprised but my mom’s here, a childhood friend and my girlfriend. It’s nice to be able to celebrate it with them.

Nick Goepper
I’m going to get more sleep - that’s the learning tool I’ll take to Korea. I didn’t get much sleep in Sochi - my heart was racing.

Gus Kenworthy
The last Olympics went by in a flash, a whirlwind. This time I want to soak up the experience, really be there for it and make memories that will las t a  lifetime. 

Maggie Voisin
Last Olympics I was able to soak it up after I got hurt. I stayed to closing ceremony. I’m going in with the same mindset - I’m doing it because I love it.

Gus Kenworthy
The biggest advantage of our selection process is it motivates all of the U.S. guys to really be on their game.

Right beforehand, it really incentivizes us to perform well going into the Games. 

Nick Goepper
It’s grueling on the athletes - a lot of stress, sleepless nights. But it’s positive as the U.S. always has the strongest team performing right up to the 11th hour. Hopefully Korea will be a walk in the park.

Maggie Voisin
Choosing the team weeks prior to going to the games really shows who’s best. Yes, it’s stressful. But it shows who’s on top of it just before we go.

Nick Goepper
To be healthy and stay on top of my game I try to eat healthy meals, spend time with my friends , fly some RC helicopters  and play a lot of poker which has kept m y competitive edge sharp.

I have an amazing support system behind me. As much as I wanted to make the team, if God forbid I hadn’t made it, I have family and great p eople in my life. It’s a huge deal but it’s not everything.
 
Maggie Voisin
Having a strong support system is important. Going home for the holidays and where skiing started for me, mentally gets me ready. Physically it’s not easy getting ready to do what we do - stay strong in the gym and keep the head from going crazy.

Gus Kenworthy
I just felt tremendous relief. I had such a roller coaster qualifying process. I had a lot of pressure in pipe. It came down to the last run and I really had to put one down. Just landing a run today and knowing I was through to the finals was a new chapter. It was a sigh of relief.

I came out a little over two years ago. When I did I had no idea what to expect. My close friends and family had been super supportive. But I didn’t know how the industry would react. I painted the worst scenario in my head. It wasn’t like that at all. I had so much encouragement. Last Olympics I had no expectations on me - I had no Olympic sponsors. This time around I’ve signed around 15 Olympic sponsors - partly because of my skiing but also because I’m out. Brands want to get behind someone who is living authentically and I think it’s great.
 
I think the only way to break down stereotypes and homophobia is to have visibility. Having Adam and I at the Games being out and proud - hopefully if there’s one kid who comes out of the closet it will be a success.

Maggie Voisin
It’s crazy. The sport of free skiing is a family. Gus was there for my last Olympic experience. The last four years we’ve traveled around the world to contests. Just to see Gus and Nick do well - we’re all going through it - its a family.

Nick Goepper
Switzerland, Norway, Canada - McEacharn, B raaten are all at the top level. I think the competition will be much higher this time around than in Sochi as the depth of the field has increased.   the 9th place run compared to Sochi will be much better.  

Gus Kenworthy
Skiing is at the highest level it’s ever been. The depth of field is so much greater than it’s ever been before. In Sochi our three runs were pretty standout from the field. But now a 90 isn’t a podium run, maybe you make finals.

Nick Goepper
I’m grateful that my family and friends have the opportunity to go over and experience the Olympics. So I’m looking forward to that and sharing the experience with them.

Gus Kenworthy
None of my family was able to be in Sochi. My mom definitely kicks herself for missing that. One of the things I’m most looking forward to is that my family is going. I’m most looking forward to the karaoke.

Maggie Voisin
PyeongChang hosted such a wonderful test event - they were just in awe of what we did. It’s going to be greater this year. I’m excited for my family to be there. Round two - let’s do it!

An Olympic selection process that began a full year ago in Mammoth Mountain came full circle Sunday. On the final day of a hotly-contested battle for slopestyle skiing Olympic berths, Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo.) and bronze medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) finally sealed their spots to return. Gold medalist Joss Christensen (Park City, Utah), who made a valiant effort in returning from a late-season knee injury, came ever so close to vying for a return ticket.

Coming into the final two selection events for the men, none of the three objective spots had been claimed. Goepper and Kenworthy needed only a podium in one of the two men's competitions to clinch outright. After he missed qualifying for the morning World Cup, Kenworthy came back in the afternoon to make a statement on his first run with a 94.8, holding on to finish second and gain a ticket to PyeongChang.

Goepper joined Kenworthy on the podium, finishing third. Alex Hall (Park City, Utah) was fifth as Canada's Evan McEachran took the win with a giant 96.40 on his second run.

In the opening FIS World Cup event Sunday morning, Canada's Teal Harle took the men's win. No Americans cracked the podium, but Goepper clinched his Olympic spot by virtue of two earlier podiums with only one event remaining. Tiril Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway took the women's win with Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.) finishing third. 

Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.), who was the only American to clinch a women's Olympic spot by objective criteria, sat out the competition.

The athletes will now head to the X Games in Aspen before winging their way to South Korea in early February for the Olympic Winter Games. The remainder of the Olympic Freeski Team will be announced this coming week.

RESULTS
Men's Slopestyle #1
Women's Slopestyle #1

Men's Slopestyle #2

Jan. 21, 2018 - On the final day of Olympic selection for most sports, several new spots were clinched based on objective criteria. Olympic medalists Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo.) and Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) took it right down to the wire on the last day of Olympic selection to claim objective spots in men's slopestyle skiing.

Just 10 months after a significant knee injury, Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.) confirmed her Olympic spot after the final event Sunday in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Ross scored a top-10 finish in Val d'Isere in December that held up to put her on the team. Also qualifying in super-G were Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) and Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.). After the final men’s slalom, David Chodounsky (Crested Butte, Colo.) and Nolan Kasper (Warren, Vt.) qualified based on World Cup ranking in slalom. Kasper returned to the World Cup after nearly three years battling injuries earlier this week to earn his spot in his first World Cup back.

All of the objective qualifiers from snowboarding halfpipe and slopestyle/big air plus freeski halfpipe were honored Saturday night at Mammoth Mountain during the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix.

Team announcements are scheduled for this coming week and will be sequenced whenever final team sizes are known.
 

Jan. 20, 2018 - Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) earned a shot at repeating her 2010 Olympic downhill gold as she clinched an Olympic Team spot with a win in the final downhill at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Jackie Wiles (Bend, Ore.) was third to make her second Olympic Team. Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.) also qualified with her two downhill podiums this season. A fourth downhill position may be added this week. In Kitzbuehel, Jared Goldberg (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.) sealed their downhill spots on the Olympic Team.

Jonathan Cheever (Saugus, Mass.) claimed his Olympic spot when no other athletes were able to unseat him in selection events. Cheever scored a podium in the season opener last summer.

At Mammoth Mountain, the day kicked off with the final slopestyle snowboarding contest of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix. Hailey Langland (San Clemente, Calif.) and Julia Marino (Winchester, Mass.). Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, Mich.) took the men's win to claim the final remaining objective criteria spot. Closing out the evening, Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, Vt.) and Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, Calif.) claimed halfpipe snowboarding nominations.

Jan. 19, 2018 - In a hotly contested Toyota U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe skiing finale, final objective spots for the Olympic Team were claimed. Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.) sealed a return Olympic berth with a win. Devin Logan (W. Dover, Vt.) also sealed a return, but this time in halfpipe. Logan is still in contention for a slopestyle spot. In the men's halfpipe, Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.), who narrowly missed in 2014, earned a spot finishing second. Torin Yater-Wallace (Aspen, Colo.) claimed a return spot. Defending gold medalists David Wise (Reno, Nev.) and Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) had already clinched spots. Additional fourth spots for men and women may be named next week.

In the final men's super-G of the selection period, Tommy Biesemeyer (Lake Placid, N.Y.) and Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, N.Y.) claimed Olympic spots based on World Cup rankings. Weibrecht has medaled in super-G the last two Olympics.

Jan. 14, 2018 - Olympic selection continued on Sunday, but there were no new athletes achieving objective criteria for selection. In men's slopestyle skiing Sunday in the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen-Snowmass, Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo.) took the men's win over Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.). It was Kenworthy's first podium of the selection period, second for Goepper. But it was not enough for either to mathematically clinch one of the three objective criteria spots. It will now come down to the final two slopestyle contests at Mammoth Mountain.

Jan. 13, 2018 - Shaun White (Carlsbad, Calif.) led three Americans to PyeongChang Saturday at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen-Snowmass with all three clinching Olympic berths. White will make his fourth Olympic team, first for Ben Ferguson (Bend, Ore.) and Jake Pates (Eagle, Colo.), who won Youth Olympic Games gold two years ago.

Earlier in the day at Aspen, Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.) nailed a repeat spot in slopestyle skiing.

Cross country ended its World Cup selection with a freestyle sprint in Dresden, Germany. New team qualifiers with a top 50 World Cup sprint ranking included Ida Sargent (Orleans, Vt.), Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.) and Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, Vt.).

Jan. 12, 2018 - Teen Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.) rocketed to his second Olympic qualifying win at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen-Snowmass Friday to claim a slopestyle snowboarding spot in PyeongChang. Olympic champions David Wise (Reno, Nev.) and Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.) claimed their halfpipe skiing spots and will defend their Sochi titles. At the Visa Freestyle International in Deer Valley, aerials skier Kiley McKinnon (Madison, Conn.) sealed her first Olympic Team spot.

Jan. 11, 2018 - Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.) and Morgan Schild (Rochester, N.Y.) clinched Olympic berths with their finishes in the Visa Freestyle International World Cup moguls events in Deer Valley. With just one event remaining in the Olympic selection period, both have achieved two top three World Cup finishes and have mathematically sealed a spot.

Jan. 9, 2018 - Resi Stiegler (Jackson, Wyo.) clinched her spot on a third Olympic team after the final slalom of the selection period. Stiegler qualified based on her World Cup ranking behind slalom leader Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.).

Dec. 31, 2017 - Bryan Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) earned a spot on his second Olympic Team with a win in nordic combined. Mike Glasder (Cary, Ill.) clinched his first Olympic berth with a ski jumping victory while Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, Utah) claimed a return trip with her women's ski jumping win.x

Olympic selection continues in most sports through next weekend with full teams being announced the week of January 22.

Selection Notes
This update is as of the noted date and subject to change through the selection period. Update includes only those athletes who have achieved the top levels of objective selection criteria, which does not guarantee a spot on the team. Final team announcements will be made the week of Jan. 22, subject to USOC approval.
 
Alpine (selection period runs through Jan. 22)
Bryce Bennett (top 10 alpine combined; World Cup ranking downhill) ^
Tommy Biesemeyer (World Cup ranking SG) ^
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (World Cup ranking alpine combined) ^
Tommy Ford (World Cup ranking GS) ^
Jared Goldberg (top 10 downhill) ^
Ted Ligety (top 5 giant slalom) ^
Megan McJames (World Cup ranking GS) ^
Laurenne Ross (top 10 super G) *
Mikaela Shiffrin (top 3 downhill, top 5 super G, top 3 giant slalom, top 3 slalom) ^
Resi Stiegler (World Cup ranking SL) ^
Lindsey Vonn (top 3 downhill) ^
Andrew Weibrecht (World Cup ranking SG) ^
Jackie Wiles (top 3 downhill) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria

Cross Country (selection period runs through Jan. 15)
Erik Bjornsen (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) ^
Sadie Bjornsen (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Rosie Brennan (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance, sprint) ^
Sophie Caldwell (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Jessie Diggins (top 8 in designated selection event) ^
Simi Hamilton (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) ^
Andy Newell (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) ^
Kikkan Randall (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint, distance) ^
Ida Sargent (top 50 World Cup ranking in sprint) ^
Liz Stephen (top 50 World Cup ranking in distance) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria as of rankings on Jan. 6 (rankings subject to change through Jan. 15)
 
Freeski (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Maddie Bowman (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in halfpipe) ^
Alex Ferreira (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in halfpipe) ^
Nick Goepper (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Gus Kenworthy (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Devin Logan (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in halfpipe) ^
Brita Sigourney (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in halfpipe) ^
Maggie Voisin (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
David Wise (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in halfpipe) ^
Torin Yater-Wallace (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in halfpipe) ^
 
Freestyle (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Jaelin Kauf (2 top 3 moguls) ^
Kiley McKinnon (2 top 3 aerials) ^
Morgan Schild (2 top 3 moguls) ^
* Achieved objective qualification criteria
 
Nordic Combined (selection period runs through Jan. 22)
Bryan Fletcher (winner Olympic Trials) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
 
Ski Jumping (selection period runs through Jan. 21)
Mike Glasder (winner Olympic Trials) ^
Sarah Hendrickson (winner Olympic Trials) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
 
Snowboard (qualifying through Jan. 21)
Jamie Anderson (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Jonathan Cheever (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
Kelly Clark (clinched objective spot in halfpipe in qualifying series) ^
Ben Ferguson (clinched objective spot in halfpipe in qualifying series) ^
Red Gerard (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Chris Corning (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Faye Gulini (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
Lindsey Jacobellis (top 3 in designated snowboardcross selection event) ^
Chloe Kim (clinched objective spot in halfpipe in qualifying series) ^
Hailey Langland (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Maddie Mastro (clinched objective spot in halfpipe in qualifying series) ^
Julia Marino (mathematically clinched qualifying series points in slopestyle) ^
Jake Pates (clinched objective spot in halfpipe in qualifying series) ^
Shaun White (clinched objective spot in halfpipe in qualifying series) ^
^ Qualified for U.S. Olympic Team
* Achieved objective qualification criteria

On a night when it really counted, Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.) came through with a Toyota U.S. Grand Prix win in the Visa freeski halfpipe presented by The North Face at Mammoth Mountain and a ticket to PyeongChang. California crowd favorite Kyle Smaine (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.), the 2015 World Champion, finally nailed his run on the third try to take the victory for the men.

Sigourney, who stepped it up last weekend at Aspen-Snowmass to finish second, was strong and consistent all night, putting down a 91.20 on her second run for the victory over Olympic champion Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) and Devin Logan (West Dover, Vt.). All three qualified objectively for PyeongChang. It will be a repeat Olympics for Sigourney, who was sixth in Sochi. Bowman won gold in Sochi while Logan won silver in Slopestyle. It will be Logan's first Olympic halfpipe appearance.

“I don’t know, I just have been feeling really good,” said Sigourney, looking back on her last two weekends of qualifying. “I think it’s all just confidence. I got a couple good results and I think it goes a long ways.”

Sigourney joins a very strong team anchored by Bowman, who won gold four years ago. “I am so stoked on our team that qualified,” she said. “Devin and Maddie are my best friends, so couldn’t be happier to be going with them.”

Smaine came through on his third and final run to lay down a 92.20, winning over Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.) and Torin Yater-Wallace (Aspen, Colo.). All three had their podium performances on the third run. Ferreira and Yater-Wallace will join Olympic champion David Wise to the Olympics, qualifying objectively. It will be Ferreira’s first Olympics. He set himself up well with a win in the Dew Tour a month ago. Yater-Wallace will be going back for his second Olympics.

“I can not believe it, I seriously can not believe it,” said a jubilant Ferreira, who narrowly missed out on the 2014 team. “I am the happiest human in all the land and so happy to be here and along for the ride.” 

What made it even sweeter for Ferreira was that his longtime Aspen friend Yater-Wallace was coming along too. “It’s really special to be going with Alex to the Olympics,” said Yater-Wallace. “Unfortunately last time around he was skiing insanely well, but so was the rest of the field. Being his first Olympics, it’s just an unreal feeling, I am just really proud of him, it’s been a long time in the making of Alex really blowing up in the scene and he’s capitalizing now. He’s proved that he has at the top level and he’s been getting podiums.”

Yater-Wallace had a lot to reflect on himself with the medical challenges he has endured over the last few years. 

“It’s a very special night locking in my confirmation to the Olympics team,” he said. “It’s really an honor to get one of the first three spots this time around vs a discretionary position like Sochi. That was one of the big things in my head was to actually prove that I could ski and get there. For myself, it’s been kind of a tough year, there was a lot of pressure being as I won the first selection event, and since we have had a lot of strange halfpipes working against us with the lack of snow along with a slight foot injury that I have been working on, I am just so glad it all came together and couldn’t be more thankful. I am really happy to be feeling better and skiing like myself again.”

Logan came away from Sochi with slopestyle silver, but had really wanted to double up in halfpipe,. “It’s definitely a relief,” said Logan. “Four years a go I didn’t make the pipe team and I was so close and really wanted it. Now I’ve come out four years later and will be headed to the Olympics for pipe. Slope is still undecided, but this is definitely weight off the shoulders, I am feeling confident and hopefully get another spot and go for two.”

She was optimistic about the upcoming Olympics, with the opening ceremonies just three weeks away. “I am so excited to go back to Korea – the people, the culture, it’s all amazing there,” she said. “It was the best pipe I have ever ridden, and last year I got 2nd in the test event. Hopefully I can take this confidence into the Olympics and keep it all rolling.”

A possible fourth spot for men or women may be announced next week. On the men’s side, the competition was fierce and deep with both 2014 Olympian Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, Colo.) and Youth Olympics Games medalist Birk Irving (Winter Park, Colo.) made strong bids.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix continues Saturday with a busy day of Slopestyle for both skiing and snowboarding, plus the final snowboarding halfpipe of the Olympic qualifying period.

Trick List

Men
Kyle Smaine:left down the pipe double flat spin 9 japan, right 10 tail, switch left 7 screaming seamen mute, right 9 seatbelt japan, left double 12 mute

Alex Ferreira: right double 12 mute, left 7 tail, switch right 7 japan, left 9 tail, right down the pipe double flat spin 9 japan

Torin Yater-Wallace: right double 12 mute, left 7 safety, switch right 7 safety, right alley oop dub 9 japan, right down the pipe double 9 japan

Women
Brita Sigourney: straight air mute, alley oop japan, left 9 tail, left alley oop 5, left 5 safety, right 7 safety

Maddie Bowman: straight air mute, left 7 tail, right 7 mute, switch left 7, right 5 safety, left 9 tail, air to dakine japan

Devin Logan: straight air japan, straight air mute, right 5 japan, left 5 tail, alley oop critical, left 7 tail, switch left alley oop 5 safety 

RESULTS
Men’s Halfpipe Skiing
Women’s Halfpipe Skiing

 

The Visa freeski halfpipe finals presented by The North Face are scheduled to go off Friday evening—the last Olympic halfpipe qualifiers of the season.

The U.S. men and women dominated the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix freeski halfpipe qualifiers on Wednesday, with the men sweeping all finals spots, led by Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo), and the women grabbing five of the eight spots, led by Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.).

David Wise (Reno, Nev.) and Bowman have already clinched their spots to defend their respective 2014 Olympic gold medals, but two more objective spots are on the line for both men and women. 

Both Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.) and Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, Colo.) would confirm their spots with a win, while on the women’s side, Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.) and Devin Logan (West Dover, Vt.) would confirm with a first or second place.

Live stream the halfpipe finals at 9:20 p.m. ET, or watch the broadcast at 1:00 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

The U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe Olympic team nominations presented by Visa will occur Saturday night.

START LISTS
Women's halfpipe start list
Men's halfpipe start list